Trading up: how I found myself wearing platinum
The rose gold IWC Caliber 89 was my first “big” watch purchase. Prior to it, I’d only ever bought online and had never spent more than $500 on a single watch. But I wanted a vintage gold dress watch and was drawn in by the history of the movement, so when I saw this example at a local dealer I just had to have it.
I bought the watch in February of 2020 and planned to wear it to a couple weddings that year, but we all know what happened next. The watch became an escape from my frontline day job, a way to relax and pretend to be someone else on the weekends. I could study the Arabic numerals and get lost in all the tiny details of the dial’s patina. It felt special and I was honored to wear it, but recently it spent less and less time on my wrist.
So when a beautiful platinum cased reference popped up on a Japanese dealer site I knew it was time for a change. I sold my original cal 89 and patiently waited for delivery. I almost couldn’t believe how much heavier the little platinum case could be when I first unwrapped it! The broad lugs give it so much more presence on the wrist, without being overbearing. The white metal makes it much more versatile, as it could easily pass as steel instead of platinum. The dial and hands are much plainer, but there’s beauty in their simplicity.
It’s only been a week, but so far I have no regrets about making the trade. How about you? Do you have any good stories about trading a watch you love to get something that might suit you even better?
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Beautifully simple design! 😍 In platinum no less, what a piece!
I never sell - they are all my children.
Really nice that my friend 👌
Congrats great piece, didn't know these were in platinum too. I have simmilar dial but with diff hands, also 89 in SS
Congrats great piece, didn't know these were in platinum too. I have simmilar dial but with diff hands, also 89 in SS
Most of the platinum cases IWCs from this era were made for the Japanese market. And most of those had cases made in Japan, but this one is Swiss. Love the variety of hands/dials/cases for the Caliber 89.
Im taking an interest in vintage very nice!